DONATE TO KILLER WHALE RESEARCH

Thank you to all of our Sponsors and Supporters.

Conducting field research – especially in the marine world- can be expensive. Hiring boats, paying for fuel, and spending hours out on the water is costly.

We would like to thank all sponsors and supporters of this important research for their time, money and effort to help a worthy cause. If you would like to donate, you can donate directly through this authorized and protected link with PayPal, how easy is that!

The Killer Whale, Orcinus orca, is the apex predator of the ocean and one of the most charismatic cetaceans in the world- and yet we still know very little about this population of orca here in Australian waters.

Project O.R.C.A. (Orca Research and Conservation Australia) has been conducting research on the killer whales found in Western Australia since 2014. Working in collaboration with CMST, Curtin University, this project adopts a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the distribution, abundance, bioacoustics and population dynamics of killer whales in Australian waters. Results from this study will provide pertinent data to address the population status of this species and deliver key scientific information for assisting management of Australian killer whales.

Why is the research important?

Very little is known about killer whales in Australian waters. Their abundance, movements, ecology and population status are yet to be determined for the Australian population. An alarming statistic given their importance in the ecology as the top predator.

Killer whales are currently listed as ‘Data Deficient’ in Australia, meaning there is insufficient information to assign a conservation listing for the species. This ‘Data Deficient’ labelling then prevents this species from being categorized accordingly and properly assessed, meaning it also may prevent them from receiving the conservation attention they urgently require.

Why killer whales?

Well apart from the killer whales charisma, they also play a very important role in the ecology of the marine environment. Top-order or apex predators like killer whales are vital for keeping the ecosystems healthy. They help maintain balance, keep prey numbers in check and serve as a proxy for the health of the ecosystem.

Apex predators are key to the health of an ecosystem. Without them, everything gets out of balance, leading to cycles of population explosions and crashes.

What we understand, we can protect.

Right now we know very little about the killer whales here in our Australian waters, and we need to obtain baseline data so we can get a basic understanding of their population status. Once we know more about these killer whales, we can help protect them and the environment they live in.

This important research will enable us to help preserve our marine system for future generations to enjoy.

And you can be part of this exciting research!

With your help, we can continue this important and crucial research.

All donations go directly into field research- with funds used for boat fuel, boat time, camera and GPS equipment and field site accommodation. Not a cent is wasted- you can be rest assured to know that every contribution to Project ORCA goes a long way in protecting and conserving our ocean’s apex predator- the Killer Whale. Every little bit counts and we thank you for your continuing support.

If you want to help our dedicated research on the population of killer whales here in Australia and donate directly to through this link here: